What to Do When Good Enough Isn't Good Enough: The Real Deal on Perfectionism: A Guide for Kids

by Thomas S. Greenspon

Book Overview

This book helps kids understand how perfectionism hurts them and how to free themselves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1575422344
• ISBN13: 9781575422343
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.6" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 9 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 8

Customer Reviews

So much excellence in such a little package

This entertaining, very well designed and printed little book is a piece of art. Its message is powerful yet so fun to read. One could hardly ask for more. It is both insightful and enlightening. Perfectionism is an insidious thing that can take so much from us, not only many lost opportunities but also the pleasure to live life to its fullest. Starting with the identification of the problem, the author explores its manifestations and how one can deal with them in a pragmatic way. All in a very readable language where the main points are never lost. The graphics also provide many visual clues. Both adults and teenagers can benefit from this book. Teenagers will have the unique opportunity to discover a problem when its solution is most readily available. Adults may be surprised to want to keep their own copy of this book. Yet you could simply not expect less. It is an outstanding book in content, form and delivery.

Good book

People always assume perfectionism is a good thing but taken to the extreme, it can be paralyzing. I like to have children's books that deal with emotional issues available for my kids to pick up on our home book shelf. When we first got this book, I read it with them and we used it to initiate conversations on the topic. For one thing, it helped my kids get perspective on their feelings. But I've seen them pick this book up to read on their own, even after we went through it. Even if my kids don't feel like talking to me- they can still get good advice on how to deal with their feelings. We have a good relationship, but I think all kids get tired of hearing advice from their parents. Some times when I try to talk to them about serious issues, it probably feels like a lecture. Books are less threatening. I have a few in this series and they are all good.

Very helpful

I see a lot of little things about all of us that we can talk through. Thanks.

Hits the nail on the head!

The book really does a good job of explaining what perfectionism is, at a kid level.

A thoughtful, practical, down-to-earth guide

Written by licensed psychologist and family & marriage therapist Thomas S. Greenspon, Ph.D., What to Do When Good Enough Isn't Good Enough: The Real Deal on Perfectionism is a guide written especially for young people, preteens and teenagers about what perfectionism is and learning how to deal with it. What to Do When Good Enough Isn't Good Enough emphasizes that perfectionism isn't just wanting to do well - it's an obsessive fear of performing less-than-perfect in any way, and is always harmful. Perfectionism can and often does interfere with the necessary hard work and learning process involved in undertaking any task; for example, a perfectionist might obsessively worry about a book report so much that he or she turns it in late (or not at all!) because too much time was wasted trying to write it perfectly. A thoughtful, practical, down-to-earth guide, enthusiastically recommended for grade and high school library shelves.